Hundreds gather to celebrate 600th Parkrun

Event Director Mary Ross said the event had snowballed since she launched it with family and friends in 2010

Hundreds of runners and walkers have gathered to celebrate the 600th Parkrun at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham.

The free weekly event sees participants tackle a 5km (3.1 mile) course on tarmac footpaths around parkland.

One of the biggest of its kind in the country, the race began at the site in 2010.

Event Director Mary Ross described hitting the milestone as "absolutely amazing".

"When we started in August 2010 I had to make all my family and friends come because I thought nobody would turn up," she said.

"A lot of people have been coming here for a long time and have formed new groups.

"We've had weddings, we've had proposals, we've had new people as well."

Hundreds of runners gathered by the bandstand in Cannon Hill Park

Organisers marked the occasion by collecting donations for the B30 foodbank in Cotteridge.

Other Parkrun locations around Birmingham include Edgbaston Reservoir, Aston hall and Woodgate Valley Country Park.

Ms Ross urged those who had not tried the event, which originated in Bushy park, Teddington, in 2004, to give it a go.

"Come and walk, jog, walk and run... come and observe [and] clap, or come along and volunteer.

"It's just a social event for the community," she said.